Treasury secretary visits Siemens in Alpharetta

ALPHARETTA, Ga. – U.S. Treasury Secretary Jacob J. Lew visited Siemens’ Ga. 400 manufacturing facility in Alpharetta March 14 to highlight the importance of investing in infrastructure, manufacturing and innovative technologies to strengthen the middle class, increase the momentum of the recovery and speed the pace of job creation.

This was the first trip Lew made outside of Washington, D.C., since taking the cabinet position.

“This is the kind of facility we need to promote and encourage more of,” Lew said. “This demonstrated advanced manufacturing, technology being used in a way that creates multiple benefits in terms of jobs to create the technology, the reduction in energy uses when the technology is employed and improved outcome in terms of the environment.”

The company’s facility in Forsyth County, one of 130 manufacturing operations throughout the country, develops and manufactures drive components that support major American industries, including rail, mining and transportation.

Its hybrid and electric drive systems are powering transportation infrastructure, such as the new Atlanta Streetcar project, reducing fuel costs and polluting emissions for the city.

The secretary toured the plant with Helmuth Ludwig, CEO of Siemens Industry Sector, North America.

Eric Spiegel, CEO, Siemens North America, said the visit really showed Siemens can be seen as a very important U.S. company.